Bethesda has firmly expressed its opposition to any attempt to alter the existing history in the lore of the Fallout saga, considering that maintaining narrative consistency is a crucial responsibility towards the fans. Emil Pagliarulo, lead writer at Bethesda, has emphasized the importance of every element of the lore in the franchise, stating that “everything matters” to the followers, and that any attempt to retcon the story would be detrimental. Pagliarulo, who has worked on iconic titles like Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, emphasizes that his job is to “keep the lore together and coherent”, a task he considers one of the greatest honors of his career.
There will never be a fall
In a recent interview with PC Gamer Magazine, Pagliarulo emphasized that the narrative of Fallout is rich and complex, with details ranging from its pre-war history to its multiple post-apocalyptic facets. Although Bethesda does not seek to modify past events of the saga, it continues to expand the universe through new stories and concepts that complement the existing narrative without undermining it.
In the context of Fallout’s expansion beyond video games, the live-action series on Prime Video has made decisions that touch on the canonical narrative. Recently, the creators of the series canonized one of the endings of Fallout: New Vegas, although co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet clarifies that there is no intention to establish a definitive ending for the story. The aim is to enrich the world of Fallout without invalidating the events that have preceded the series.
With the live series attracting both new and old fans, Bethesda’s narrative decisions will remain crucial to maintaining the loyalty of its follower base. As new stories unfold, the company firmly clings to its commitment to respecting the lore it has built over the years.